Keta: Residents in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region have been encouraged to inculcate better and well-defining behaviors into young and upcoming children for better future outcomes. The move would also help children acquire various training and skills that would shape and prepare them adequately for various tasks in the future.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Aurelia Tudzi, the Girl Child Promotion Officer at the Keta Municipal Assembly, in an interview to mark the 2025 International Boys' Day, emphasized that the celebration, held on May 16 every year, is solely dedicated to focusing on boys and their well-being. "The day is to fully focus on boys; it also includes the things they need in order to be happy, healthy, and valued in their families and communities," she said.
She explained that the International Day of the Boy Child is celebrated each year to recognize the importance of boys' upbringing and the challenges they face while also celebrating the positive aspects they bring to their communities and families. She stressed that all boys should be encouraged and trained to grow up to become men of honor and integrity, contributing meaningfully to promoting their immediate families, entire communities, and the nation at large, ultimately making the world a better place for all.
"The day is to also raise awareness about boys' rights and challenges, such as education, gender equality, mental health, positive masculinity, and encouraging boys to express themselves freely, and the public must help achieve this," Madam Tudzi added.
She charged parents, guidance, and stakeholders to take their responsibilities seriously, fostering empathy and understanding toward boys' experiences, challenging harmful stereotypes, and urging children to adopt a collaborative spirit for the development of the communities. She noted that the day was established in 2018 by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh, a social activist from Trinidad and Tobago, aiming to address issues such as child neglect, academic failures, violent behaviors, and emotional suppression among boys.
Madam Tudzi emphasized that the focus should not be solely on girls when it comes to child labor and abuse, molestation, sexual abuse, and denial of education, as many children in both rural and urban areas face various abuses and challenges that need to be addressed. She lamented about current investigations revealing that many youths engage in life-threatening activities such as smoking, drug abuse, premature sex, and robbery, appealing to the public to help advise and shape children for a better future.
The 2025 International Boys' Day was celebrated under the theme, "Building Self-Esteem in Boys, Stand Up, Be Heard, Be Seen," focusing on affirming identity in boys and self-worth from an early age.
